We've Moved!

We've Moved!

We've actually moved a couple of times since the last time this blog was updated. Of note, in December 2015 we left Alabama and moved to Virginia. We love it here and it's honestly the best decision we've ever made.

If you want to keep up with our latest adventures, be sure to visit us at http://www.casadehines.com/

See you there!

One-Pot Pasta e Fagioli

Pasta e Fagioli literally means pasta with beans, so in that sense that's exactly what this is. If you came here looking for the Olive Garden soup, you've come to the wrong website. This is pretty amazing, though. I took all the basic ingredients of standard Italian pasta e fagioli and swapped them with things I had on hand. Doing this, I was able to make eight servings for less than two dollars. Even having to buy some of the things I already had on hand, minus the spices, you'd spend less than four dollars. Did I mention this is a great recipe?

INGREDIENTS:
4 Tbsp. butter
1 small red onion, diced
2 tsp. minced garlic
1/8 tsp. dried oregano
1/8 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. dried basil
1 can (5 oz.) great northern beans, flavored with sausage
1 pkg (12 oz.) extra wide egg noodles
1 pkg (0.87 oz.) brown gravy mix
8 cups water
Red pepper flakes, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Melt butter in a large skillet. Cook onion, garlic, and herbs until onion is translucent. Add in beans (juice and all) and mix well. Pour in pasta and water, then sprinkle over red pepper flakes and gravy mix, stirring gently until combined. Taste the sauce. If it's too salty add a little bit of sugar to balance it out, but not so much that you can taste the sweetness. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until noodles are cooked, about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Remove from heat and allow to sit for at least 5 minutes to thicken slightly.

That's it. Less than half an hour from beginning to end and less than four dollars out of your budget. You'll notice I took out the tomato base because tomatoes give me wicked heartburn. Next time I may add sliced sausage or diced carrots just for a little more texture. All in all, though, it's one of my favorite things I've made in a while. Now, go forth and eat. :-)

Personal Choices, Public Prejudice

I travel between five courthouses for my day job. I'm on pretty good terms with most everyone I interact with there, and a few of them have known me since I was a small child. I have a lot of respect for these people, and I flatter myself that they value me for who I am as a person. About a year ago I was wearing bright blue extensions in my hair.One of these ladies that has known me my whole life assumed they were real. After a brief exchange, she asked me "Why would you want to do that to yourself?" Her tone said much more than just her words tell here. It spoke of prejudice, judgement, and even a hint of revulsion.

Last weekend my husband and I were at the bar. There we ran into some friends and their respective lady-friends. One of these ladies had a really unique piercing and was explaining how they did it. The friend that was not with her made a really big deal about it, asking repeated variations on the "but why would you want to do that to yourself" theme.

Yesterday a co-worker upset another co-worker over her jewelry. Co-worker #1 is very religious. Co-worker #2 considers herself the same, but just happens to adore girly skull things. Yesterday she wore a beautiful necklace and earring set with rhinestone skulls and roses. Co-worker #1 acted offended and kept on and on about "why would you want to wear things like that?"

Let me share with you what I told that lady a year ago. "Because I think it's cool, and I figure anyone who judges me based on my appearance and not on who I am as a person isn't worth worrying about." It is a phrase that is beautiful and perfect in its pointed indirectness. I'm not accusing you of such things, but maybe you should really think about that thing you just said, m'kay? I love it, and it was EXTREMELY effective.

So, if you've made it this far, this is my friendly little public service announcement. When it comes to other people, all you need to be concerned with in this life is what is on the inside. Not about their hair or clothes or sexual orientation or religious convictions. The color of my hair does not hurt anyone, least of all me. So what does it matter if I "do that to myself?" Same for piercings, tattoos, and even sex. It's my body, it's my soul, it's my choice, not yours. If it isn't hurting me, if it isn't involving you, why should you be concerned?

 NO ONE owes you an explanation about their lifestyle choices. NO ONE.